Study says Lower Mainland faces growing risk of large-scale flood

New studies out today indicate a growing risk of a large-scale flood in the Lower Mainland, and that if a major Fraser River or coastal flood were to occur between now and 2100, it would trigger losses estimated at twenty to thirty billion dollars, potentially the most costly natural disaster in Canadian history.

The analysis was commissioned by the Fraser Basin Council. FBC chair Colin Hansen says it’s time to plan for larger, more frequent floods.

And Hansen says the problem will get worse the longer time goes on, thanks to rising sea levels and what he calls “other projected impacts of climate change.”

Hansen told reporters at the launch of Phase 2 of the Lower Mainland Flood Action Plan that B.C. came very close to seeing what a flood disaster looked like back in 2007, when a heavy snow pack met with unseasonably warm temperatures.

“Fortunately we dodged a bullet as the waters of this very mighty Fraser River came within a half metre of breaching the dykes in that year.”

Hansen says if a coastal flood happened today it could cost over $19-billion, and a flooding of the Fraser River could see almost $23-billion in damage.

He says Alberta’s experience in 2013 shows just how seriously a flood can impact an economy.

“That province has incurred a huge economic loss with uninsurable claims totaling over $4-billion and total losses of about $6-billion.”

The report is an initiative of Phase One of the Lower Mainland Flood Management Strategy, which involved a review of flood scenarios in the Lower Mainland.

The government is now committing $1 million in funding towards implementation of Phase Two of the strategy development.

The third and final phase of the plan will focus on implementing the strategy.